Black Bear Carbon, once a frontrunner in sustainable tyre recycling, has filed for bankruptcy after a string of operational and financial challenges. The Dutch cleantech firm was known for recovering carbon black from end-of-life tyres—a process that significantly reduces CO₂ emissions compared to conventional methods. Its closure marks a major blow to the circular economy and recovered carbon black (rCB) sector.
Founded in 2010, Black Bear Carbon developed a proprietary method to extract high-quality rCB from used tyres. The process was considered carbon-neutral, reportedly saving around 5kg of CO₂ per kilogram of rCB produced. The company operated a flagship plant in Nederweert, Netherlands, and formed strategic partnerships to scale up operations, including with HELM AG and MMEC Mannesmann.
In 2017, it was named to the Global Cleantech 100, signalling global recognition for its market potential.
Despite strong early momentum, Black Bear Carbon encountered several compounding issues:
A major fire at its Nederweert facility disrupted production and inflicted significant financial damage. Regulatory scrutiny following the incident led to prolonged operational delays.
Lengthy permitting procedures obstructed expansion efforts, particularly plans for a new plant at the Chemelot Industrial Park.
Critical investment pledges failed to materialise, leaving the company unable to manage its debt. Broader economic instability and investor caution further complicated fundraising.
Rising interest rates and volatile oil prices created a challenging environment for capital-intensive recycling ventures.
Black Bear Carbon’s downfall is a cautionary moment for the cleantech sector. Its experience illustrates the vulnerability of high-impact environmental startups to:
▪ Regulatory and permitting delays
▪ Operational risks like facility damage
▪ Overdependence on uncertain funding
▪ Macroeconomic headwinds beyond their control
Despite this, the firm’s work validated the technical and commercial case for rCB, which can replace virgin carbon black in tyres, plastics, and coatings—a global market worth an estimated €12 billion annually.
As the tyre industry continues to pursue low-carbon materials, lessons from Black Bear’s rise and fall are likely to shape the strategies of future rCB ventures and sustainable manufacturing projects.
Tagged with: Black Bear Carbon, recovered carbon black, tyre recycling, circular economy, rCB, cleantech, tyre pyrolysis, CO2 reduction, Chemelot Industrial Park, HELM AG
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